Candle sparks condominium fire in Forest Glen

A fire on the top floor of a condominium in Forest Glen displaced people living in about 10 units Monday and caused about $900,000 in damage, according to a fire and rescue official.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue officials believe a woman living in the condominiums at 2100 Walsh View Terrace in Forest Glen accidentally knocked over a lit candle in her apartment when she swung off her coat about 7:30 p.m.

The woman, who stepped into another room, didn't realize she had knocked over the candle until she smelled smoke a short time later and her smoke alarm activated, said Pete Piringer, a spokesman for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue.

Piringer said the woman opened a sliding door to let some of the smoke out after she saw a chair and nearby furniture on fire. However, the air from outside fueled the fire and it quickly engulfed her unit before spreading to two or three others, Piringer said.

Two residents and one firefighter who were taking to the hospital for minor burns, Piringer said. No one else was hurt and everyone was able to escape in time. Piringer said he believes everyone's smoke alarm activated. However, a poodle from the apartment where the fire started is missing and presumed to have died in the fire, Piringer said. Other pets were rescued, he said.

The fire displaced residents in about 10 units because of holes in the roofs and shut off utilities, Piringer said. The American Red Cross has helped about six people, he said. Piringer said the fire spread so quickly because flames usually double in size every minute.

"What surprises people most about fire is how quickly it grows," he said.